Corner key composite member

Abstract

A corner key for a window assembly may be composed of a first body portion having an inner edge, and a second body portion having an inner edge in which a gap is formed between the inner edges of the first and second body portions. The key may include a channel disposed within the gap and a port in fluid communication with the channel. The first body portion may have a first adhesive bonding area in fluid communication with the channel and the second body portion may have a second adhesive bonding area in fluid communication with the channel. The corner key may be inserted into a first and a second window element. An adhesive material may be inserted through the port to spread through the channel to the first and second adhesive bonding areas inserted into the window elements, thereby forming an adhesive bond therewith.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A corner key for a window assembly comprising:
 a first body portion comprising:
 a first body inner edge; 
 a first body outer edge; and 
 a first body face defined by the first body inner edge and the first body outer edge and comprising a first raised portion disposed proximate to the first body outer edge and extending along a length of the first body outer edge, 
 wherein the first body portion extends in a first direction; 
 
 a second body portion comprising:
 a second body inner edge; 
 a second body outer edge; and 
 a second body face defined by the second body inner edge and the second body outer edge and comprising a second raised portion disposed proximate to the second body outer edge and extending along a length of the second body outer edge, 
 wherein the second body portion extends in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction of the first body portion, and wherein the first body inner edge and the second body inner edge form a gap therebetween; 
 
 a channel formed in the gap between the first body inner edge and the second body inner edge; 
 at least one port in fluid communication with the channel; 
 a first adhesive bonding area comprising a portion of the first body face defined by an inner edge of the first raised portion and the channel, wherein the first adhesive bonding area is in fluid communication with the channel; 
 a second adhesive bonding area comprising a portion of the second body face defined by an inner edge of the second raised portion and the channel, wherein the second adhesive bonding area is in fluid communication with the channel; and 
 a flange disposed orthogonal to both of the first body face and the second body face, wherein the flange comprises:
 a top surface; 
 a bottom surface; 
 a first outer edge proximate to the first body outer edge; 
 a second outer edge proximate to the second body outer edge; 
 a first top surface raised portion proximate to the first raised portion of the first body; and 
 a second top surface raised portion proximate to the second raised portion of the second body, and 
 wherein a top portion adhesive bonding area is defined by an inner edge of the first top surface raised portion and an inner edge of the second top surface raised portion and is in fluid communication with the channel. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The corner key of  claim 1 , wherein the window assembly comprises a window sash assembly. 
     
     
       3. The corner key of  claim 1 , wherein the window assembly comprises a window frame assembly. 
     
     
       4. The corner key of  claim 1 , wherein the corner key comprises a PVC and natural fiber filed composite. 
     
     
       5. The corner key of  claim 4 , wherein the corner key comprises an extruded body comprising the first body portion, the second body portion, the channel, the port, and the flange. 
     
     
       6. The corner key of  claim 1 , wherein the first body portion comprises a stepped contour, a zigzag contour, a wavy contour, an offset contour, a folded contour, or any combination or combinations thereof; and
 the second body portion comprises a stepped contour, a zig-zag contour, a wavy contour, an offset contour, a folded contour, or any combination or combinations thereof. 
 
     
     
       7. The corner key of  claim 1 , wherein the flange further comprises:
 a first bottom surface raised portion proximate to the first raised portion of the first body; and 
 a second bottom surface raised portion proximate to the second raised portion of the second body; 
 wherein a bottom portion adhesive bonding area is defined by an inner edge of the first bottom surface raised portion and an inner edge of the second bottom surface raised portion and is in fluid communication with the channel. 
 
     
     
       8. A window assembly comprising:
 a partially hollow vertical framing element; 
 a partially hollow horizontal framing element; 
 a corner key, wherein the corner key comprises:
 a first body portion comprising:
 a first body inner edge; 
 a first body outer edge; and a first body face defined by the first body inner edge and the first body outer edge and comprising a first raised portion disposed proximate to the first body outer edge and extending along a length of the first body outer edge, 
 wherein the first body portion extends in a first direction; 
 
 a second body portion comprising:
 a second body inner edge; 
 a second body outer edge; and 
 a second body face defined by the second body inner edge and the second body outer edge and comprising a second raised portion disposed proximate to the second body outer edge and extending along a length of the second body outer edge, 
 wherein the second body portion extends in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction of the first body portion, and 
 wherein the first body inner edge and the second body inner edge form a gap therebetween; 
 
 a channel formed in the gap between the first body inner edge and the second body inner edge; 
 at least one port in fluid communication with the channel; 
 a first adhesive bonding area comprising a portion of the first body face defined by an inner edge of the first raised portion and the channel, wherein the first adhesive bonding area is in fluid communication with the channel; 
 a second adhesive bonding area comprising a portion of the second body face defined by an inner edge of the second raised portion and the channel, wherein the second adhesive bonding area is in fluid communication with the channel; and 
 a flange disposed orthogonal to both of the first body face and the second body face, wherein the flange comprises:
 a top surface; 
 a bottom surface; 
 a first outer edge proximate to the first body outer edge; 
 a second outer edge proximate to the second body outer edge; 
 a first top surface raised portion proximate to the first raised portion of the first body; and 
 a second top surface raised portion proximate to the second raised portion of the second body, 
 wherein a top portion adhesive bonding area is defined by an inner edge of the first top surface raised portion and an inner edge of the second top surface raised portion and is in fluid communication with the channel, 
 
 wherein the first body portion of the corner key is disposed within a partially hollow portion of the partially hollow vertical framing element and the second body portion of the corner key is disposed within a partially hollow portion of the partially hollow horizontal framing element thereby forming an initial window structure; and 
 
 an adhesive material disposed within the channel of the corner key, 
 wherein the adhesive material is further configured to contact the first adhesive bonding area and an interior portion of the partially hollow vertical framing element, and 
 wherein the adhesive material is further configured to contact the second adhesive bonding area and an interior portion of the partially hollow horizontal framing element. 
 
     
     
       9. The window assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the window assembly comprises a window frame assembly, and the partially hollow vertical framing element comprises a window jamb, and the partially hollow horizontal framing element comprises a window head or a window sill. 
     
     
       10. The window assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the window assembly comprises a window sash assembly, and the partially hollow vertical framing element comprises a window style, and the partially hollow horizontal framing element comprises a window rail.